A collaborative and interdisciplinary strategy spanning hydrodynamics, sophisticated materials, elasticity, and microelectromechanical systems technologies is required for the effective deployment of wing propulsive lifting systems in ships and underwater vehicles. The hydrodynamic characteristics play a crucial role in the motion performance of the marine vehicle, which employs a wing propulsive lifting system. The present study aims at reviewing the hydrodynamics of the wing propulsive lifting system for ships and underwater vehicles, covering the relevant classical work, mathematical models, numerical simulations, and experimental results. This study contributes to the academic discourse by conducting a meticulous examination of the hydrodynamics underlying wing propulsive lifting systems. The classification of research methods enables a comprehensive comparison of results, facilitating accurate performance evaluation. The review concludes by presenting key insight and recommending potential avenues for future research, thereby propelling the knowledge and development of wing-propulsive lifting systems within the scholarly community.